The IGF is a multi-stakeholder com­munity which bring individuals from vari­ous fields, communities, government, and civil society organisations, together to enable them to benefit from the internet, its governance, and its utility.

It also aims to promote awareness and understanding of internet governance issues among stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organi­sations, academia, and the private sector.

A Multi-stakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) tasked with the responsibility to bring community members from various backgrounds to help in the organisation of the forum was also inaugurated.

Speaking at the event in Accra on Wednesday, the Director General of the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), Dr Mark Oliver Kevor, said the contributions of the stakehold­ers towards an effective and inclusive internet governance was important as it was a shared responsibility.

“Ghana’s digital transformation is not one we undertake in isolation. It is a shared responsibility that demands the collaboration of all stakeholders, and I mean the government, private sector, civil society, academia, the technical com­munity, internet users, and development partners”, Dr Kevor noted.

The Director General, who represent­ed the Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Mr Sam Nartey George, also urged the elect­ed members of MAG to exhibit good leadership in the discharge of their duties in ensuring that the internet and digital challenges were addressed.

For her part, the Minister of Public Sector Reforms, who chairs the IGF MAG, Ms Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, said that the recommendations of the forum would enable the government to realise its vision of establishing a robust and inclusive digital ecosystem, where all citi­zens could actively participate and benefit from the Internet.

The coordinator for the Ghana Inter­net Governance School, which is part of the Ghana IGF, Mr Kweku Antwi, also added that the forum to be held in May would help bridge the gap between community members and policy makers in the formulation of policies on internet governance.